A CSF smear is part of a series of laboratory tests performed on samples of a patient’s cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). A CSF smear is often combined with a CSF Gram stain to diagnose certain infectious diseases of the central nervous system. T...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a way of looking for conditions that affect the brain and spine. It is a series of laboratory tests performed on a sample of CSF. CSF is the clear fluid that cushions and delivers nutrients to the central nerv...

A blood culture is a fairly routine test that checks for bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms in the blood. The test is relatively simple for the patient and involves a simple blood draw. A laboratory tests the blood sample and the results ar...

An X-ray is an imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body. When focused on the chest, it can help spot abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, bones, heart, ...

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs responsible for filtering blood and waste. One method to determine just how well your kidneys are filtering is by measuring the waste product urea, using the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test. This fast, simple...

A complete blood count, or CBC, is an easy and very common test that screens for certain disorders that can affect your health. A CBC measures several components of your blood and can help diagnose a broad range of conditions, from anemia and infe...